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The Madness of Peter Howson

Film which follows Peter Howson's commission to paint the largest-ever crowd scene in British art history, one that took him to the brink of bankruptcy and the edge of sanity.

Peter Howson is one of the world's most collected living artists, his work hanging on the walls of galleries and museums and in the homes of rock stars and actors. In 2008 he received the biggest commission of his career - to paint the largest-ever crowd scene in the history of British art - but the commission is fraught with so much difficulty its completion is in jeopardy from day one.

This film follows Peter over two difficult years, a journey that took him to the brink of bankruptcy, and also to the edge of his sanity.

1 hour

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Red Snapper

    Heavy Petting

  • Scientific Support Dept.

    Endstroma

  • Kaki King

    First Brain

  • Gavin Bryars

    Glorious Hill

  • Boards of Canada

    Amo Bishop Roden

  • Jónsi & Alex

    Boy

  • John 5

    Gods and Monsters

  • Led Zeppelin

    The Ocean

  • Neil Young

    Rumblin'

  • Richie Hawtin

    Welcomm

    • in.
  • Parsley Sound

    Platonic Rate

  • Arvo Pärt

    Da Pacem Dominie

  • Arvo Pärt

    Lamentate

  • Depeche Mode

    Personal jesus

    • Pump Mix.
  • Untitled

    Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth

  • The Screaming Blue Messiahs

    Too Much Love

  • Sinfonia Lahti Chamber Ensemble

    Four Elements

  • Plumbline/Roger Eno

    Adaptation

  • Kaki King

    The Exhibition

  • Plumbline/Roger Eno

    Transparency

  • Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

    Loaded Gun

  • duo505

    Toru Okada

  • Scientific Support Department

    Shortwave

  • Plumbline/Roger Eno

    A Few Streets Away

  • The Durutti Column

    Pol in B

  • Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

    Spread Your Love

  • Kaki King

    Gay Sons of Lesbian Mothers

  • Art of Noise

    Debut

  • Audioslave

    Cochise

  • Neil Young

    Someone's Gonna Rescue You

  • Arcade Fire

    Ready to Start

  • Gavin Bryars

    Incipit Vita Nova

  • Nico Muhly

    Music Under Pressure 1

  • Plumbline/Roger Eno

    It all becomes clear

  • John 5

    Sin

  • Nico Muhly

    Storm Centre

  • Air

    Alone in Kyoto

  • Sigur Rós

    Heysatan

  • The Stone Roses

    Fools Gold

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer George Cathro
Director George Cathro

Broadcasts